KEARNEY, MICHAEL (1733–1814), archdeacon of Raphoe, born in 1733 in Castle Street, Dublin, was son of Michael Kearney, surgeon-barber, and entered Trinity College, Dublin, on 11 June 1747. He obtained a scholarship in 1750, fellowship in 1757, and was co-opted a senior fellow in 1769. He held the chair of history on the foundation of Erasmus Smith from 1769 to 1778. In the latter year he accepted the college benefice of Tullyaughnish, co. Donegal, and resigned both his fellowship and his professorship. He was appointed to the archdeaconry of Raphoe in 1798, and dying 11 Jan. 1814, aged 80, was buried at St. Ann's, Dublin.

Kearney published ‘Lectures on History,’ given in Trinity College, Dublin, London, 1776. He contributed to ‘Transactions of Royal Irish Academy,’ ‘Thoughts on the History of Alphabetic Writing,’ 1789; ‘The Evil Effects of Polytheism, or the Morals of the Heathens,’ 1790; and ‘On the Powers of Painting to express Mixed Passions,’ 1795. Kearney prepared some notes for Croker's edition of Boswell's ‘Life of Dr. Johnson,’ vols. i. and iv.

Kearney, John (1741–1813), bishop of Ossory, was brother of the above. He was elected fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, in 1764, became professor of oratory there in 1781, and in 1799 was appointed provost. In 1806 he was chosen bishop of Ossory, and died at his palace, Kilkenny, 22 May 1813 (Gent. Mag. 1813, i. 592; Cotton, Fasti Eccl. Hib. ii. 290). One son, John, was chancellor of Ossory from 1809 till his death in 1838, and another, Thomas Henry, was prebendary of Ossory from 1810 to 1812 (ib. ii. 301, 310).